Digital Compact Cameras

Digital Camera

PowerShot A540

PowerShot A540

PowerShot A540

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  • Outline
  • Specifications
Marketed March 2006

The PowerShot A540 and A530 inherit and expand on the outstanding imaging performance of their predecessors, the PowerShot A520 and A510, released in March 2005. In addition to being newly equipped with Canon’s proprietar high-speed DIGIC II image engine, the A540 incorporates a 6.0-megapixel CCD sensor and the A530 a 5.0-megapixel CCD sensor for exceptional imaging quality and performance.

In combination with the 4x optical zoom lens for which their predecessors were widely acclaimed, the A540 and A530 employ 2.5-inch and 1.8-inch high-resolution LCD monitors, respectively, for superior operability. Moreover, the new Canon cameras allow users to enjoy photography in their own style, offering 21 shooting modes (18 for the A530) that include settings ranging from automatic to manual.

Camera Effective Pixels Approx. 6.0 million
Image Sensor 1/2.5-inch CCD (Total number of pixels: Approx 6.2 million)
Lens 5.8 (W) – 23.2 (T) mm (35 mm film equivalent: 35 – 140 mm)
f/2.6 (W) – f/5.5 (T)
Digital Zoom Still images: Approx. 4.0x (Up to approx. 16x in combination with the optical zoom)
Movies: Approx. 4.0x (Up to approx. 16x in combination with the optical zoom)
Optical Viewfinder Real-image zoom viewfinder
LCD Monitor 2.5-inch, TFT color LCD, approx. 85,000 dots (Picture coverage 100%)
AF System TTL autofocus
AF lock and Manual focus are available
Focusing frame: 9-point (AiAF) / 1-point (AF)
Shooting Distance (From the front of the lens) Normal: 45 cm (1.5 ft.) – infinity
Macro: 5 – 45 cm (2.0 in. – 1.5 ft.)(W)
30 – 45 cm (12 in. – 1.5 ft.)(T)
Manual focus: 5 cm (2.0 in.) – infinity (W)
30 cm (12 in.) – infinity (T)
Shutter Mechanical shutter and electronic shutter
Shutter Speeds 15 – 1/2000 sec.

* The shutter speed varies according to the shooting mode.
* Slow shutter speeds of 1.3 sec. or slower operate with noise reduction.

Metering System Evaluative, Center-weighted average or Spot*

* Fixed to center

Exposure Compensation ±2.0 stops in 1/3-stop increments
ISO Speed Auto*, ISO 80/100/200/400/800 equivalent

* Camera automatically sets the optimal speed.

White Balance TTL auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Underwater or Custom
Built-in Flash Auto*, on*, off

* Red-eye reduction is available.

Flash Range Normal: 45 cm – 3.5 m (1.5 – 11 ft.) (W)
45 cm – 2.2 m (1.5 – 7.2 ft.) (T)
Macro: 30 – 45 cm (12 in. – 1.5 ft.) (W/T)

(When ISO speed is set to AUTO.)

Flash Exposure Compensation ± 2.0 stops in 1/3-stop increments
Shooting Modes
Auto
Creative zone: Program, Shutter-speed priority, Aperture priority, Manual
Image zone: Portrait, Landscape, Night scene, Special Scene*, Stitch Assist and Movie**

* Night Snapshot, Kids&Pets, Indoor, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Underwater, Color Swap and Color Accent.
** Standard, Fast Frame Rate, Compact, Color Accent and Color Swap.

Continuous Shooting Approx. 2.3 shots/sec. (Large/Fine mode)
Self-timer Activates shutter after an approx. 10-sec./approx. 2-sec. delay, Custom Timer
Recording Media SD memory card/MultiMediaCard

* camera has been tasted with memory cards through 2 GB. Use of all memory cards cannot be guaranteed.

File Format Design rule for camera file system and DPOF compliant
Data Type Still images: Exif 2.2(JPEG)*, Sound Memo: WAVE (monaural)
Movies: AVI (Image data: Motion JPEG; Audio data: WAVE (monaural))

* This digital camera supports Exif 2.2 (also called "Exif Print"). Exif Print is a standard for enhancing the communication between digital cameras and printers. By connecting to an Exif Print-compliant printer, the camera’s image data at the time of shooting is used and optimized, yielding extremely high quality prints.

Compression Superfine, Fine, Normal
Number of recording pixels (Still images) Large: 2816 x 2112 pixels
Middle 1: 2272 x 1704 pixels
Middle 2: 1600 x 1200 pixels
Small: 640 x 480 pixels
Postcard Date Imprint Mode: 1600 x 1200 pixels
Widescreen: 2816 x 1584 pixels
Number of Recording Pixels (Movies) Standard, Color Accent, Color Swap:
640 x 480 pixels (30 frames/sec., 15 frames/sec.)
320 x 240 pixels (30 frames/sec., 15 frames/sec.)
Recording can continue until the memory card is full* (can record up to a maximum of 1GB at one time)**
Fast Frame Rate:
320 x 240 pixels (60 frames/sec.)
Max. Clip Length at one time: 1 minute
Compact:
160 x 120 pixels (15 frames/sec.)
Max. Clip Length at one time: 3 minutes

* Using super high-speed memory cards (SDC-512MSH recommended).
** Even if the clip size has not reached 1 GB, recording will stop at the moment the clip length reaches 1 hour. Depending on the volume and data writing speed of the memory card, recording may stop before reaching 1 hour or before the recorded data volume has reached 1 GB.

Playback Modes Single (histogram displayable), Index (9 thumbnail images), Magnified (approx. 10x (max.) in LCD monitor, advance or reverse through magnified images possible), Jump (it is possible to jump to every tenth or hundredth image, to the first image of each shooting date, to the first image in each folder, or to movies. In index playback mode, it displays 9 images at once.), Sound memos (up to 1 min.), Auto Play or Movie (edit/slow motion play back possible).
Direct Print PictBridge compliant, and Canon Direct Print and Bubble Jet Direct compatible
My Camera Settings Start-up image, start-up sound, operation sound, self-timer sound, and shutter sound.
Interface USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (mini-B), PTP (Picture Transfer Protocol)
Audio/Video output (NTSC or PAL selectable, monaural audio)
Power Source 2 AA-size alkaline batteries
2 AA-size rechargeable NiMH batteries NB4-300 (sold separately)
AC Adapter Kit ACK800 (sold separately)
Operating Temperature 0-40°C (32-104°F)
Operating Humidity 10-90%
Dimensions 90.4 x 64.0 x 43.2 mm (3.56 x 2.52 x 1.70 in.) (excluding protrusions)
Weight Approx. 180 g (6.35 oz.) (camera body only)